Daily Readings - Wed Feb 12 2025
Genesis
4These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.5When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up--for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,6and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground--7then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.8And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.9And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.15The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Mark
14And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand:15There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."16See Footnote17And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.18And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,19since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)20And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him.21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,22coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey from the dawn of creation to the teachings of Jesus, exploring themes of purity and the human condition. The passage from Genesis paints a vivid picture of the Garden of Eden, where humanity's story begins. God forms man from the earth and places him in a paradise of abundance, with a single command: not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This narrative sets the stage for understanding humanity's relationship with divine authority and the nature of temptation.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus shifts the focus from external rituals to the internal state of the heart. He challenges the Pharisees' emphasis on purity laws, asserting that true defilement comes not from what enters the body but from what flows out of the heart—such as greed, deceit, and envy. This teaching emphasizes that sin originates within, highlighting the need for inner transformation rather than mere external observance.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded that our spiritual journey is not about avoiding external temptations alone but about cultivating purity of heart. Like Adam in Eden, we face choices that test our obedience and trust in God. Jesus calls us to look inward, recognizing that our actions and decisions are rooted in the state of our hearts. As we navigate life's challenges, may we seek to align our inner lives with God's will, embracing the grace that transforms us from within. Let us strive to be gardens of Eden in our own lives, nurturing love, humility, and truth.